Short Answer, in my opinion, NO (*confirmed)
Update 21st April 2023 – Dominic Raab has finally resigned !
Dear prime minister,
I am writing to resign from your government, following receipt of the report arising from the inquiry conducted by Adam Tolley KC. I called for the inquiry and undertook to resign, if it made any finding of bullying whatsoever. I believe it is important to keep my word.
It has been a privilege to serve you as deputy prime minister, justice secretary and lord chancellor. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a minister in a range of roles and departments since 2015, and pay tribute to the many outstanding civil servants with whom I have worked.
Whilst I feel duty bound to accept the outcome of the inquiry, it dismissed all but two of the claims levelled against me. I also believe that its two adverse findings are flawed and set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government. First, ministers must be able to exercise direct oversight with respect to senior officials over critical negotiations conducted on behalf of the British people, otherwise the democratic and constitutional principle of ministerial responsibility will be lost. This was particularly true during my time as foreign secretary, in the context of the Brexit negotiations over Gibraltar, when a senior diplomat breached the mandate agreed by cabinet.
Second, ministers must be able to give direct critical feedback on briefings and submissions to senior officials, in order to set the standards and drive the reform the public expect of us. Of course, this must be done within reasonable bounds. Mr Tolley concluded that I had not once, in four and a half years, sworn or shouted at anyone, let alone thrown anything or otherwise physically intimidated anyone, nor intentionally sought to belittle anyone. I am genuinely sorry for any unintended stress or offence that any officials felt, as a result of the pace, standards and challenge that I brought to the Ministry of Justice. That is, however, what the public expect of ministers working on their behalf.
In setting the threshold for bullying so low, this inquiry has set a dangerous precedent. It will encourage spurious complaints against ministers, and have a chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government – and ultimately the British people.
Finally, I raised with you a number of improprieties that came to light during the course of this inquiry. They include the systematic leaking of skewed and fabricated claims to the media in breach of the rules of the inquiry and the Civil Service Code of Conduct, and the coercive removal by a senior official of dedicated Private Secretaries from my Ministry of Justice Private Office, in October of last year. I hope these will be independently reviewed.
I remain as supportive of you and this government, as when I first introduced you at your campaign leadership launch last July. You have proved a great prime minister in very challenging times, and you can count on my support from the backbenches.
Yours sincerely,
Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab: Deputy PM’s resignation letter in full BBC
The Report of formal complaints about the conduct of the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has also been published.
Dominic Raab was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on the 25th October 2022.
As the Secretary of State for Justice, The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, heads the Ministry of Justice.
A formal complaint was made on the 15th November 2022 regarding his conduct at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Further to our articles on His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the highly questionable Sussex Family Justice Board one would expect the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice to have unimpeachably high standards that such important roles demands.
Not so it would seem……It would appear that the Justice system is rotten from the top to the bottom.
Oath of the Lord Chancellor
The Lord Chancellor takes a sincere and solemn Oath from Part 2 Section 17 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
“I, , do swear that in the office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain I will respect the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary and discharge my duty to ensure the provision of resources for the efficient and effective support of the courts for which I am responsible. So help me God.”
Oath of the Lord Chancellor Part 2 Section 17 Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Investigation into Bullying
The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Adam Tolley KC to conduct an independent investigation into two formal complaints which have been made about the conduct of the Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
As an independent investigator, Adam Tolley KC has been asked to:
- Establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Ministry of Justice;
- Establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
With at least 24 civil servants involved in complaints against Dominic Raab, if the Balance of Probabilities test used in the Family court was applied he would have been proclaimed guilty already. Read our article on Burden and Standard of Proof.
According to the Guardian newspaper Dominic Raab says he will quit if he is found guilty of bullying.
Why has he not been sacked or resigned already ?
How is The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP still the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice as well as the Deputy Prime Minister ?
What is the role of Deputy Prime Minister ?
According to the gov.uk webpage for the Deputy Prime Minister , it lists the responsibilities as BLANK.
A deputy prime minister traditionally serves as acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising power.
Conclusion
A bully *(alleged), in my opinion, is not fit for such high office.
I’m sure he is a very lovely and capable man but from one Dominic to another, please do the decent thing and resign !
“Our justice system is the envy of the world.”
Transforming Our Justice System By the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals September 2016
In 2023, now the laughing stock of the world………God Help Us if this is Justice.
Read our review of Gavin Howe Barrister
Latest Articles
- Senior President of Tribunals
The Senior President of Tribunals is the independent and statutory leader of the tribunal judiciary. The office of the Senior… Read more: Senior President of Tribunals - Solicitor General
The Solicitor General is the second law officer of the Crown in the United Kingdom, after the Attorney General. The… Read more: Solicitor General - R v Sussex Justices
“It is not merely of some importance but is of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but… Read more: R v Sussex Justices - What is Section 35 ABCP Act 2014 ?
Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 grants police officers the power to direct a person… Read more: What is Section 35 ABCP Act 2014 ?
